Saturday, 30 January 2010

Checking out the papers today, and it is truly disheartening overall.
A mix of sex scandals, reality tv hunks and harlots, and a mother smothering her children to death.Lovely....

I saw this pic by chance near the bottom of the page, and it really reminded me of the Lion King Disney movie, the Daddy Lion is definitely looking grumpy, but amused by his hyperactive little cub. So cute...

Friday, 29 January 2010

I based this piece on Orlaith the celtic,Golden fairy queen.
The pendant is sculpted in fine silver, and I've added a couple of fresh water pearls, and a pair of stunning microfaceted golden citrine briolettes

I will be sad to let her go to be honest, I know I shouldn't have favourites, but I do love this piece a lot

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

I know this must be so annoying for those of you, that come here to look at my jewellery LOL

I am on a few days break from jewellery.
I will try to get my week 3 piece done. It just needs oxidising and some beads added

Photoshop tutorials on the web have improved so much since I last looked around a few years ago. I made these today, and love them.

The way I rationalise it, is that all these graphics could come in handy for my website.
Thats what I've said to the hubby anyway, not that he is fooled LOL.
He just mutters "Uh-huh" with a knowing smirk on his face

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

I haven't had fun making digital art in aaages.
I never give myself a day off usually,although I suspect most people running a home business don't get many breaks either

Anyway, I followed a couple of tutorials written at www.psdvault.com.
I found this fab website today, full or resources and tips. I don't have anywhere near the latest version of photoshop, but I still managed to think my way round the tutorials somehow

So here they are.One is a fancy typography effect, with flourishes, and all manner of filters. The other is using a stock photo of a model, and grunging the image up, and adding light effects.

Sunday, 24 January 2010

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world. Kristin from K S Jewellery nominated me, which was so sweet and unexpected.Have a look at her blog when you get a chance, it is full of random nuggets of life and beautiful jwellery.

So here are 12 blogs I read frequently, and find really inspiring.I have linked them below, they are really worth the click!

1. ZooBorns
This blog of newborn zoo animals is so endearing and lifts my spirits no end

2. Eugena's Creations"
Eugena is one of my fave artists, she does Polymer clay mainly, but does a lot of mixed media. I bought a tutorial from her a few years ago, and never looked back

3. Murano Silver
Nicola is an amazing silver clay artist and has such an approachable manner.Lots of humour and handy tips makes her blog one of my faves to read

4. MangoTangoDesigns
Bev Gallerani is one of the metal clay gurus, who inspires thousands.I love her work, because it is so nature inspired and 3D.

5. Schin's Crafts
Schin is an amazing young artist who mixes traditional and digital art together. I bought one of her Geisha paintings, and love her sketches.

6. McNulty Quads
A family blog really, following quadruplets, 3 girls and a boy. I read their mini adventures, and ooh and awwh over their pics all the time!

7. WickWire Jewelry
Nancy is an amazing wire jewellery artist, who seems to be making jewellery all the time,which I love , because there is always something new and gorgeous to look at

8. ArtMind
Mitsy is an artist and her blog is very interactive, she brings people together and has many uplifting colourful posts.I visit there very often

9. Daily Art Muse
Daily Art Muse, is just that, a daily inspiration of all kinds of art forms

10. Tutorial 9
Tutorial 9 is a blog run by webdesigners full of freebies, and tips on graphic designs, for the amateur like me

(Much love and best wises to Michael C Hall. Hope you kick Hodgkins into remission, permanently)

Too much TV is Baaaad.I get majorly distracted and obsessed with tv shows too easily. Especially the ones with mysteries that lend themselves to conspiracy theories

In the US TV show seasons are recommencing. Damages is back on, so dark and twisted at times, and it always keeps me guessing. Supernatural, a beloved guilty pleasure, to which I can now add Glee, and Gossip Girl too LOL

Dexter's latest season was so amazingly well concieved, and the John Lithgow/ Michael C Hall combo was inspired.

In some ways I love my TV shows more than movies, I feel I get to know the characters better, and am more invested emotionally.
They are real dammit!!LOL!!

Anyway, I will have to ration myself, and use my tv shows as rewards for work done, otherwise my website will never see the light of day!

Saturday, 23 January 2010

It basically said, I am not allowed to mention the past to her anymore, or ever get cross with her about it anymore, because it means I am living in the past.Oh, and to sort out my fertility STAT to get her some grandkids

I am all for the Moving forward philosophy of life. I try to live by it. The thing is my present and future life is tied up with consequences of the past, there is no escaping that fact

I am not living in the past, but like most adult survivors, there are a myriad of triggers that pull you back there anyway

My future is very different from where I was even 5 years ago, and this has everything to do with the past. I went to court with the rest of the family to put Dad in prison, because she had always refused to do it before then. He has abused more children since, but she does not feel any responsibility for that.

As a result of the past and the courtcase, I mentally am unable to do the job I was trained to do.Fact.

She actually never, ever got him removed from the family home. He left of his own accord a year after I left. Then she took issue with me not being family orientated enough to return to that home and play happy families with her.

She let me go into the real world as a seriously damaged eighteen year old, and was still full of anger and criticisms about my life choices. The nurturing mothering didn't remotely appear until there was irrefutable evidence of me being mentally ill, in my thirties.

I am trying to sort myself out. I will make a go of the jewellery business, even without her support. I will try to be positive about life

I will not however maintain contact with someone so damaging to my health and self esteem as she is.

A consultant psychiatrist said to me, years ago, that Adult Survivors of CSA always bounce back to the abusive parents for parental love and approval, which they probably never really had. She said it was a cliche. They need to move on

I agree in principle, but there has to be some empathy there too for the survivors. They had it bad, and rarely get cut any slack in adulthood for finding life hard. Is a little compassion too much to ask for? I think not.

Saturday, 9 January 2010

This snap was taken yesterday. The hubby found me browsing on the internet instead of working. I thought I'd share because I quite liked it...

I'm thinking about starting a Year Of Jewellery project, since I pretty much make jewellery all the time anyway, and whenever I look back at the influences and media explored, I realize how restless my mind is LOL

So my aims for this year so far:-

1.Tackle my PCOS symptoms head on...contimue weight loss etc
2.Sort out the inventory for the shop, and the inland revenue applications
3.Try to stay mentally more focussed, and look on the bright side more
4.Open the store

Jewellery Wise
I'm going to continue to explore different media, but with a focussed theme in mind. I go off at tangents constantly

Anyway this is more of a personal post I suppose, more for me than you...which is a little self absorbed, but it helps me to make little public declarations like this, because it forces me to comply LOL

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About Me

Art therapy has always been a lifeline for my mental wellbeing. I was mainly into water colour painting and amateur sculpting in mixed media.
As it happens in life, major personal events forced me to change careers, and I discovered jewellery making, as a creative outlet
Now it is my main passion, I enjoy exploring all forms and techniques in jewellery making, and am still learning. People close to me have encouraged me to start a shop which is linked above.I'm aiming to carve out a new career doing something I truly love
Hope you like my pieces :)
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Welcome to Amadora Designs Blog

I blog mainly about inspirations for jewellery making.It is a personal blog, as well as an accompaniment to the online shop
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The About This Blog Page has more info on what you will find here
Thanks for visiting :)
Samantha Braund

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